The California Amateur Championship is one of the nation’s oldest state amateur golf championships and dates back to 1912 when the California Golf Association was founded. The California Amateur Championship was originally held at Del Monte GC but shifted to Pebble Beach Golf Links when it was built in 1919. The championship remained at Pebble Beach through 2006, with the exception of 2000 when it was played at Bayonet and Blackhorse GCs due to the U.S. Open being hosted at Pebble Beach. In 2006, the championship began a new tradition of rotating to courses around the state, alternating between Northern California and Southern California. The tournament has seen many top names including Ken Venturi in 1951, Johnny Miller in 1968, Bobby Clampett in 1978/1980, Duffy Waldorf in 1984 and Mark O’Meara in 1979. Standout golfers who have tried to win the title and failed, include Craig Stadler, Corey Pavin, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. Woods reached the semifinals in 1994 before falling to Ed Cuff. The oldest champion remains Vern Callison, who won in 1967 at the age of 47. Mac Hunter is the youngest champion, having won in 1972 at the age of 16.

ELIGIBILTY: This championship is open to amateur golfers who have an established current index of 4.4 or below as of the time of registration and are members in good standing of the Northern California Golf Association and/or Southern California Golf Association. PLAYERS MAY ATTEMPT TO QUALIFY ONCE

PLAYER INFORMATION AND PAIRINGS: Complete Tournament Information which includes practice rounds, pairings, starting times and yardages played will be emailed and posted online after entries close.

ENTRY FEE: All players will pay $150. There is no additional championship fee.

REFUND POLICY:Full Refund less $10.00 processing fee if requested prior to closing date. 50% refund after the closing date and 48 hours prior to the event. No refunds will be honored within 48 hours of the event.

FORMAT: One 18-hole qualifying round will determine the championship qualifiers. 156 players, including exempts, will advance to the championship. If necessary, a playoff will determine the final position(s) at each qualifying site. The championship field will play 36 holes of stroke play at Olympic Club in Daly City. The top 32 players will advance from stroke play to single elimination Match Play beginning Wednesday and concluding with the 36-hole final match on Saturday. Note: Carts are not permitted for the qualifying rounds or the championship proper. The CGA will use United States Golf Association guidelines in determining cart exemptions for ADA-approved disabilities.

11) NCGA/SCGA members listed on the top 500 of the WAGR as of March 1, 2019: TBD

12)Special Exemptions as selected by the CGA: TBD

* Signifies exempt from a previous category

(p) Signifies player is no longer an amateur

Tournament Recaps

Concord resident Bobby Bucey reached the pinnacle of amateur golf in the Golden State. Bucey, a three-time NCGA champion and the No.11 seed, won the coveted California Amateur Championship on Saturday, defeating runner-up and No. 4 seed Hidetoshi Yoshihara, 1-up, in the 36 hole final at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad… Read Full 2018 Recap

Six days, two rounds of stroke play, and six rounds of match play – and it all came down to a pair of putts on the historic 18th green of San Francisco’s Olympic Club. One dropped, one didn’t, and that made all the difference in who hoisted the trophy as the champion in the 106th California Amateur Championship. With a clutch birdie on he 36th hole, PJ Samiere of San Diego State won the title… Read Full 2017 Recap

In its 105-year existence, the prestigious California Amateur Championship had never seen a pair of brothers both hoist the Edward B. Tufts Trophy, let alone in back to back years. But Shintaro Ban of San Jose made that happen Saturday, surviving a grueling week of golf at Valencia CC to win the tournament just one year after his older brother Shotaro did. “It’s absolutely a dream come true,” said Ban. “To forever have my name under his on that trophy, I can’t believe this really happened.”… Read Full 2016 Recap

Moments after clinching the title, Shotaro Ban saw his mom and the two happily exchanged hugs. After a long and emotional week, the 21-year-old was finally a champion. Ban, a senior at Cal, defeated 17-year-old Roseville resident Joshua Sedeno, 5 and 4, on a breezy Saturday at Lake Merced Golf Club to win the 104th California Amateur Championship. With the victory, he’ll join the likes of Johnny Miller, Mark O’Meara and Ken Venturi as players who have their names etched on the prestigious Edward B. Tufts Trophy...Read Full 2015 Recap

San Diego resident Xander Schauffele reached the pinnacle of amateur golf in the Golden State. Schauffele, a senior-to-be at San Diego State and the No.8 seed, won the prestigious California Amateur Championship on Saturday at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, knocking off No.2 seed Beau Hossler of Mission Viejo, 2-up. With the win, Schauffele joins an illustrious list of former winners of the event including Johnny Miller, Mark O’Meara and John Cook. In both Friday’s quarterfinals and semifinals, Schauffele, 20, also won 2-up… Read Full 2014 Recap

Last Saturday Cory McElyea was finishing up his weather-delayed second round at the 113th U.S. Open at Merion GC in Ardmore, Penn. This Saturday McElyea wrapped up a weeklong spectacular display of golf at Monterey Peninsula CC in Pebble Beach, Calif. to win the 102nd California Amateur Championship 3-and-2 over Bryson DeChambeau. While McElyea had a hectic week—which included flying across the country this past Sunday to California to play in this year’s championship—there’s no doubt that his experience playing on the biggest stage in golf helped him ultimately prevail as the latest California amateur champion… Read Full 2013 Recap

Since 1901, the NCGA has served the golfers of Northern California. The NCGA supports and promotes golf in the region as a way of helping golfers better enjoy the benefits of the game. This includes providing services such as handicap management, course ratings, tournament and event oversight for all levels of golfers, and member communication regarding regional news and events and special member discounts. More than 160,000 members enjoy all that the Association has to offer.